Trudeau Promises Federal Money to Provinces That Host Roxham Asylum Seekers

An RCMP officer informs a migrant couple of the location of an official border station, shortly before they illegally crossed from New York to Quebec via Roxham Road, on Aug. 7, 2017. Charles Krupa, File/AP Photo

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged on Thursday to give money to provinces that host asylum seekers coming from the United States into Canada illegally.

He said the federal government would “absolutely” provide support.

“Over the past years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of irregular asylum seekers that cross into Canada at Roxham Road in Quebec, and the Quebec government and Quebecers themselves have been extraordinarily generous in welcoming and supporting the vast, vast majority of irregular asylum seekers in this country,” said Trudeau.

It is “great news” that Atlantic provinces are looking into bringing in asylum seekers while their claims are reviewed, said the prime minister at a Feb. 23 news conference. Quebec is “seeing its capacity stretched to the limits,” he added.

“Just as the federal government has been there to support Quebec through the extra burden that it’s put on their health care systems, on their housing, we will also be there to work and support the Atlantic provinces who want to help out with this challenge,” said Trudeau.

Thousands of refugees have entered the country illegally outside official ports. The majority have ended up in Quebec.

According to Quebec Premier François Legault, last year more than 39,000 illegal arrivals entered mainly via Roxham Road, and that does not include the roughly 20,000 other immigration arrivals to the province. Only about 369 people claimed asylum in other provinces.

The RCMP stopped 39,540 illegal immigrants who entered Quebec through unofficial ports of entry last year—ten times as many who tried to enter the province in 2021, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Across the rest of the country, the RCMP intercepted 369 individuals who tried to cross the border illegally.

Legault wrote directly to Trudeau on Feb. 19, calling on the prime minister to close the illegal border crossing at Roxham Road. This is just the latest effort by Quebec to have the federal government enforce Canada’s borders, with the province complaining that the influx of refugees is straining the province’s housing, education, health, and social services systems.

In an opinion column published on Feb. 21 in the Globe and Mail, Legault said Trudeau’s “good intentions” in posting his famous 2017 tweet inviting refugees to the country have “turned into a real problem for Quebec and for Canada.”

Legault requested that Trudeau rewrite the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States, which the premier said was allowing the breach in the Canada-U.S. border. The agreement requires border officials in both countries to stop asylum seekers at the border at official crossings. Legault said he hopes this policy would be put in place at unofficial crossings as well.

Trudeau said the federal government is continuing negotiations on the agreement with the United States, and said the topic is on the agenda for discussion next month, when U.S. President Joe Biden is in Canada for meetings.

The Maritime premiers have indicated they would host asylum seekers if they get funding from Ottawa. New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said his province could accept 150 to 200 individuals.

“It’s a national obligation,” Higgs said on Feb. 22, at the Atlantic premiers meeting in Charlottetown.

Tim Houston, premier of Nova Scotia, also indicated his province had been asked to accept some refugees. “We'll do what we can, for sure,” said Houston.

Trudeau did not indicate how much money the federal government would provide.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.